Ch.31Chapter 31: Encounter in the Fog (2)

After regaining consciousness and confirming that I was in an unidentifiable place, what I needed to do was simple.

First, I quickly checked my physical condition.

This unknown place was shrouded in fog so thick that I could barely see my own body, making everything unclear.

Since my body was the only reliable objective indicator in this place, it was natural that I would start there.

After lightly tapping and running my right hand over various parts of my body to check:

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.

When I moved the joints throughout my body, I didn’t feel any notable pain.

Despite carrying the fatigue from the intense training that had continued throughout the day…

My body still had enough endurance to withstand some vigorous movement if needed.

Considering that when I first entered my room, I had been so exhausted that I wanted to head straight to bed without even washing up, this recovery was nothing short of remarkable.

“It seems my hyper-regeneration ability worked while I was unconscious.”

A convenient ability indeed.

It dramatically accelerates physical recovery, not only healing wounds but also restoring stamina to a level that allows for some activity even during brief periods of unconsciousness.

However, there was something even this hyper-regeneration couldn’t fix.

“…I wish it could have done something about my body odor while it was healing everything else.”

Namely, the strong body odor mixed with sweat from the intense training that had lasted all day.

“Well, I suppose wanting that too would be a bit greedy.”

The body check ended with 90% satisfaction and 10% regret.

Next, I tried to gather as much information as possible about this unknown place by looking around, but…

“…It’s no use.”

Fog ahead of me.

Fog behind me.

Fog on the ground.

Fog above my head.

Fog. Fog. Fog. Fog.

Only the fog that blurred everything continued to disturb my vision.

My observation ended without much gain, except for confirming that the dragon sword Fafnir, which had guided me here, was not far from where I was, and I quickly retrieved it to my waist.

“How frustrating.”

A deep sigh escaped my lips as I faced this space where nothing was clearly discernible.

The primal frustration I felt came from simply being in a space where fog limited visibility.

Even basic breathing was quite difficult.

And when I tried to move, it felt as if invisible threads or ropes were pulling at my body, imposing restrictions.

An unknown space where nothing could be properly understood and even controlling my own body was difficult.

If a faint-hearted person had entered, they would have cowered from the fear of the unknown, but perhaps thanks to the experiences from my two deaths that had thickened my nerves…

“Haaaah…”

Only a deep sigh of frustration escaped my lips.

On top of that, I was calmly thinking about what to do to resolve this sudden situation.

But the more I thought about it…

“…There’s no solution.”

I could only clearly feel that there was no other choice in this situation.

-What are you doing? This way. This way. Stop dawdling and come here quickly.

Even though all my senses, including the five basic ones, weren’t functioning properly to give me accurate information…

-Ah, hurry up already!!

I knew I had to go toward the only clearly audible voice, filled with fierceness.

“Tsk… I have no choice.”

After quickly coming to a conclusion and clicking my tongue, I began preparing for emergencies before heading toward the source of the voice.

Sssss

With a short, quiet breath that drew in as much of the surrounding air as possible, I compressed the mana faintly present in it, gathering it in my heart.

Gooo

I then converted the mana gathered in my heart into fighting energy, circulating it throughout my body to strengthen it—the most basic stage of “Prikasa,” the traditional breathing technique of Lanos.

For most Lanos people my age, mastering this technique to the point where a single breath could transform their bodies to superhuman levels would be standard.

But I, or more precisely, the pre-regression me, couldn’t do that.

Even this simple conversion from mana to fighting energy, considered the most basic entry-level technique, caused such intense pain that I had to risk my life each time I attempted it, which was the main reason I couldn’t progress beyond this basic stage.

Of course, that’s not the case now.

With each draw of mana, I felt no trace of the excruciating pain that used to twist my entire body starting from the heart; instead, a refreshing sensation replaced where the pain should have been.

‘I never knew the feeling of mana gathering in the lungs and then reconcentrating through the heart could be so refreshing.’

After making this frivolous observation about how my quality of life had instantly improved, I was satisfied that my body, enhanced by the breathing technique, functioned better than expected in this fog.

It gave me physical freedom in the fog that had previously felt like chains wrapped around my entire body.

And it made my breathing, which had been somewhat labored, much more comfortable.

And there was one thing that changed most dramatically due to this body strengthening technique.

“That must be it.”

Despite the fog’s density remaining the same, something projecting its presence through the thick fog became visible to my eyes.

“It’s red.”

Though the distance was considerable and the thick fog still made it difficult to discern its exact form, a red light distinctly projecting its presence through the fog was confirmed through my vision, enhanced by the strengthening technique.

Just as I was about to get a headache at the thought of heading vaguely toward the source of the voice, a smile formed on my lips as soon as I saw this red light projecting its presence.

“Well then. Let’s go.”

Having finally completed my preparations to explore this unknown place, I carefully began to move slowly toward the red light, presumed to be the source of the voice calling me.

-Don’t walk, run!!

The fierce voice that had been constantly grating on my nerves threatened me to run, apparently displeased with my movement.

“…Hmph.”

Of course, that didn’t make me accelerate my pace toward the tentative destination.

I stepped forward slowly.

I moved with deliberate caution, taking one step, then turning my head this way and that to thoroughly assess my surroundings before taking another step.

This approach was meant to minimize the risks of heading into an unknown place, and…

‘Since I’ve already wasted time, might as well waste more by irritating whoever brought me here.’

It was an action born from the combination of a certain confidence that the entity emitting the fierce voice, despite its intimidating tone, wouldn’t cause me any real harm.

-Eeek!!

Though a hiss of frustration escaped from the creature’s voice, apparently annoyed by my behavior, I felt no threatening movement directed at me for my actions.

‘As expected.’

Thus, reassured that my assumption was correct, I continued to move very slowly toward the source of the voice that had guided me here.

#

After continuing my careful steps toward the destination I had detected with my ears rather than my eyes for about 5 minutes…

My footsteps finally reached the point where the previously blurry red light became clearly visible.

I could have arrived earlier if I had hurried a bit more.

But due to my extreme caution, it took this long.

“Phew…”

After exhaling a sigh of relief at reaching my destination, I tried to carefully examine the red light that projected its presence even through the fog, but…

“…Huh?”

In the brief moment I had lowered my head while sighing, the red light that had been radiating a bright presence until just now had completely disappeared.

“What the…”

Had I seen a mirage?

Even as I looked around just in case, the red light that had boasted its bright presence was nowhere to be seen.

“…Ah.”

It was inevitable that a dumbfounded sound would escape my lips in surprise.

“What now… My steps following the only landmark have become completely wasted.”

Though I felt deflated and my strength seemed to drain from my body, it wasn’t time to be discouraged aimlessly.

Thump, thump

Because I could hear footsteps gradually approaching me.

“…Hmm?”

As I tried to turn my head toward the source of the footsteps to identify it…

Swoosh

The sound of something cutting through the air struck my ears.

“…!!”

Instinctively twisting my body to avoid it, I saw a sharply raised knife hand projecting its presence before my eyes.

Despite everything appearing blurry due to the fog, the knife hand with a distinctly reddish energy clearly formed on it was vividly visible.

“…Damn.”

Judging from the trajectory drawn by the knife hand, it would have been a fatal blow to my head had I not avoided it.

Was it my mistake to think that whatever was here wouldn’t harm me?

Drip

As the situation deteriorated and I sensed danger, a bead of cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

Thinking I couldn’t just let this happen, I reached out to grab that knife hand, but…

Slip

The unidentified arm that had struck at me with the knife hand, sensing my movement, quickly disappeared from my sight, vanishing into the fog.

“Gahahahaha.”

Instead, it let out a laugh tinged with what seemed like mockery.

There was no doubt.

“…Coming all this way only to be greeted with an attack that could have been fatal—how rude.”

It was unmistakably the laughter of the owner of the fierce growling voice that had called me here.

Unlike the consistently fierce growling voice, this frivolous laugh filled with its own sense of amusement felt even more irritating than the fierce voice that had been grating on my nerves.

For whatever reason, I could clearly tell that the entity that had brought me here was not friendly toward me.

“…Seems like I’m in for another sleepless day.”

It looks like I won’t be getting any sleep today either.

I assumed a stance, gripping the dragon sword at my waist with my right hand, ready to defend against any attack from the unidentified enemy that might target me.

It was the beginning of a long day in a space where I couldn’t even distinguish between day and night.